Internal-combustion engine



Nov. 4, 1930.

c. T. WATTS ET AL INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE 2 Sheets-Shet 1 Filed Dec. 29, 1928 gmm 6 7: W211 Z5 Nov. 4, 1930. c. T. WATTS ET L INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed D60. 29, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 4, 1930 CLEAL 1. WATTS AND F j x it. any, or ALBIA, IOWA OFFICE IAIh-COMBUSTION ENGINE Application filed December 29, 1928. Serial N0. 829,262.

This invention relates to the class of inter-' nal combustion engines and particularly to engines of the radial cylinder type, and pertains particularly to an improved means of coupling connecting rods of the engine istons with the crank or drive shaft thereo The primary object of the present invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, an improved eccentric coupling between an engine shaft and piston connecting rods whereby smoother operation of the engine is obtained without detriment to the efficiency of the same.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, means for compensating for wear on the bearing surfaces of the eccentric straps, to maintain a tight engagement of the straps about their respective eccentric bodies.

Other objects of the invention are to simplify the design of engines of this character thereby permitting various adjustments to be more readily made and to providea strap and eccentric coupling between a shaft and connecting rods having improved means for distributing lubrication to the various parts thereof.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of the present invention with the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawing but may be changed or modified so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 shows the application of the bearing structure embodying the present invention to a six-cylinder engine, the engine casing and cylinders being shown in transverse section;

Figure 2 is a. sectional view taken upon the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged side elevation view of one of the two eccentric members showing the eccentric strap partly in section 5' Figure 4c is a sectional view taken substantially upon the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein like numerals of reference indicate corre-.

sponding parts throughout the several views, the numerals 1 indicate conventionally portions of a series'of cylinders of an internal combustion engine, arranged about and extending radially from a shaft 2 which passes through the engine casing 3 in the usual to manner.

This shaft is straight and extends through the casing 3 and carries or has cast integral therewith a pair of eccentric bodies a arranged in side by side relation and extending in opposite directions from the shaft as shown.

Each of these eccentric bodies has a peripheral flange. 5 formed thereabout adjacent its inner face and adjacent its outer face is provided with the peripheral screw v threads 6.

Each of the eccentrics 4 carries a strap 7 each of which straps has extending therefrom andd Sformed' integral therewith a connecting ro The inner face of each of the eccentric straps 7 is beveled slightly adjacent each side of the strap as indicated at 9 to form a bearing surface against which position the bearing rollers 10 caried in the races 11 which engage about the eccentric bodies in the manner shown, the inner bearing race of each eccentric positioning against the flange 5 while the outer one is held in place by a retaining ring 12 threaded onto the eccentric body in engagement with the threads 6'. The rings 12 which maintain the outer roller hearings in position on the eccentric bodies are held against turning by suitable set screws 13 which are tapped into the eccentric bodies in such manner as topass through the threads 6 and those threads forming a part of the adjacent rin Each or the eccentric straps 7 has formed 95 therethrough bearing openings 14: which receive suitable bushings 15 which in turn are designed to receive the wrist pin of one of the connecting rods 16, which rods are eaclr pivotally connected to the usual piston 17 designed to reciprocate in one of the cylinders 1. The rigid connecting rod 8 like the connecting rod 16 also connects with a piston in the usual manner, as shown.

For the proper lubrication of the roller bearings 10, the eccentric bodies are each provided with an oil bore 18 which passes from the longitudinal center of the shaft 2 to the peripheral face thereof, opening through this face at a remote point from the shaft.

These oil bores are connected by the oblique bores or passages 19 and in turn are connected to a suitable oil supply through the medium of the bore 20 formed longitudinally through the drive shaft. 1

It will be readily seen from the foregoing that with the present double eccentric bearing structure an equal number of connecting rods may be attached to each eccentric to make engines of 6, 8, 10 and 12 cylinders. method of attaching the connecting rods reduces the vibration usually found in engines of the cranked shaft type and the eccentrics take the place of the counter-balance usually employed in radial motors. In the construction of an engine of thecharacter illustrated the longitudinal centers of the cylinders connected with one eccentric may be arranged in a different plane from those connected to the other eccentric so that all the connecting rods may extend straight from their respective eccentric straps.

It will also be seen that as the bearings or the bearing surfaces 9 of the eccentric straps -\\'ear this wear may be compensated for by tightening up the rings 12 against the outer bearing races so that the bearing will be kept tight at all times. Also, with the method employed for lubricating the bearings, the lubrication thereof can be mechanically controlled so as to eliminate the large amount of oil consumed by the present type of radial cylinder motor and there is a large amount of bearing surface exposed to decrease the amount of lubrication necessary;

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is 1. A double eccentric for radial cylinder motors, comprising in combination with an engine shaft, a pair of eccentric bodies arranged in abutting relation upon the shaft and extending in diametrically opposite direction therefrom. each of said bodies having a peripheral flange thereabout adjacent its inner face and having screw threads formed about the periphery adjacent the outer face thereof, an eccentric strap surrounding each of said bodies, anti-friction elements interposed between the straps and their respective bodies, said flanges limiting the movement of the anti-friction elements upon the bodies, a retaining ring threaded onto each body to maintain said elements in position, and a connecting rod carried by each of said straps.

This.

2. In an internal combustion engine, a plurality of cylinders arranged radially about a fixed center, a shaft arranged transversely of the engine upon said center, a pair of eccentric bodies cast integral with said shaft in side b side relation and extending in diametrical y opposite directions, ecccntric straps about said bodies, pistons in each of said cylinders and connecting rods attached to each of said pistons, the rods of certain of the pistons being connected to one eccentric strap and those of the remaining pistons being connected to the other eccentric strap, said eccentric straps having recesses formed in the peripheral faces thereof in each of which an inner end of a connecting rod positions for connection with the strap.

3. In an internal combustion engine, a drive shaft, a plurality of piston cylinders of even number disposed about and radially of said shaft, 21 pair of eccentric bodies cast integral with said shaft in side by side relation and'arranged in the same plane as the cylinders, an eccentric strap surrounding each body, a piston in each of said cylinders, connecting rods each attached to a piston, and means for connecting the rods with said eccentric straps comprising the extension of a securing member transversely through the strap to engage the end of the connecting rod positioned in a recess in the peripheral face of the strap, alternate hues of said rods bein I connected to one eccentric strap, the other 0 the rods being connected to the other eccentric strap.

In testimony whereof we hereunto aflix our signatures.

CLEAL T. WATTS. FRANK N. BAY. 

